A Mathematician’s Apology
A Mathematician’s Apology by G. H. Hardy is a reprint of the original 1941 edition, published by Martino Fine Books on January 12, 2018. This edition spans 102 pages and is presented in English. In this work, Hardy, recognized as one of the foremost mathematical thinkers of his time, articulates his views on mathematics as an art form rather than merely a science. The book serves as a reflective piece on the nature of creativity in mathematics, emphasizing its aesthetic qualities.
Readers will find that Hardy explores the intrinsic beauty of mathematics, drawing parallels between mathematical expression and artistic endeavors such as painting and poetry. He particularly champions pure mathematics, especially number theory, as the highest form of mathematical beauty, devoid of practical applications. This engaging account invites readers to appreciate mathematics not just for its utility but for its artistic merit, making it a significant contribution to the fields of biography, personal memoirs, and mathematics.
Official synopsis Publisher
2017 Reprint of 1941 Edition. Full facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition software. G. H. Hardy was one of this century’s finest mathematical thinkers, renowned among his contemporaries as a ‘real mathematician … the purest of the pure’. This ‘Apology’, written in 1940, offers a brilliant and engaging account of mathematics as very much more than a science; when it was first published, Graham Greene hailed it alongside Henry James’s notebooks as ‘the best account of what it was like to be a creative artist’.
One of the main themes of the book is the beauty that mathematics possesses, which Hardy compares to painting and poetry. For Hardy, the most beautiful mathematics was that which had no practical applications in the outside world (pure mathematics) and, particularly, his own special field of number theory.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “A Mathematician’s Apology” about?
Who is the author of “A Mathematician’s Apology”?
When was “A Mathematician’s Apology” published?
What is the ISBN for “A Mathematician’s Apology”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
